Barren Lives (1963) Vidas Secas (original title)

Director:

Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Writers:

Nelson Pereira dos Santos
Graciliano Ramos (novel)

Release Date:

11 December 1967 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A poor family in the Northeast of Brazil (Fabiano, the father; Sinhá Vitória, the mother; their 2 children...

Plot Keywords:

Brazil | Countryside | New Latin American Cinema | Poverty | Cinema Novo

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Átila Iório	...	Fabiano
Maria Ribeiro	...	Sinhá Vitória (Mother)
Orlando Macedo	...	Soldado Amarelo (Soldier)
Joffre Soares	...	Fazendeiro (Farmer)
Gilvan Lima	...	Boy (as Gilvan)
Genivaldo Lima	...	Boy (as Genivaldo)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Orlando Chagas
Ignacio Costa
Nabor Costa
Oscar de Souza
José Leite
Vanuterio Maia
Manuel Ordonio
Maria Rosa
Antonio Soarez

Directed by
Nelson Pereira dos Santos

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nelson Pereira dos Santos
Graciliano Ramos		novel

Produced by
Luiz Carlos Barreto	....	producer
Herbert Richers	....	producer
Danilo Trelles	....	producer

Original Music by
Leonardo Alencar

Cinematography by
Luiz Carlos Barreto
José Rosa

Film Editing by
Rafael Justo Valverde
Nello Melli

Production Management
Raimundo Higino	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan De Souza	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Geraldo José	....	sound

Editorial Department
Lucia Erita	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Waldemar Lima	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas
• Sino Filmes

Distributors

• Manchete Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Pathé Contemporary Films (1969) (USA) (subtitled)

Other Companies

• Arte Industrial Cinematográfica Ltda.  sound mixing

Also Known As:

"Vidas Secas" - Brazil (original title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Brazil

Language:

Portuguese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Como se Morre no Cinema (2003)

The Never-ending Cruel Timeless Fate of the Migrants of the Drought in the Country of the Northeast of Brazil

The illiterate migrants Fabiano (Átila Iório), his mate Sinhá Vitória (Maria Ribeiro), their two sons and their dog Baleia drift in the country of the Northeast of Brazil, fighting for their survival. They are hired by a farmer (Jofre Soares) in a slavery condition to take care of his kettle.

"Vidas Secas" is a classic of the Brazilian Cinema and the first movie of the "Cinema Novo" ("New Cinema"), a movement of the Brazilian filmmakers in the 60's that proposed to make low-budget movies with social concerns and rooted in Brazilian culture, which had the following slogan: "A camera in the hands and an idea in the head".

Nelson Pereira dos Santos made a masterpiece, certainly on of the best Brazilian movies ever. Based on a classic novel of the Brazilian literature of Graciliano Ramos, the reality and cruelty of the story is stunning. The black and white photography and the performances of the cast, including the dog, are very impressive, recalling the Italian Neo-Realism of Roberto Rossellini. This movie was made in 1963, the story happens in the 40's and presently the situation of the drought in the country of the Northeast of Brazil remains exactly the same, being one of our greatest national shames. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Vidas Secas" ("Dry Lives")